Display device

Abstract

A display device includes: a first substrate including: a display area; and a non-display area including a bending area and a pad area; a display element layer on the display area; a bending protective layer on the bending area; a flexible circuit board on the pad area; a circuit protective layer on the pad area, and completely covering the flexible circuit board; a first support member under the display area; and a second support member under the pad area, spaced from the first support member, and including: a first surface in contact with the first substrate; a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first side surface facing the first support member; and a second side surface. The second side surface includes a first inclined surface connected to the second surface, and the first inclined surface of the second support member overlaps with the circuit protective layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display device comprising:
 a first substrate comprising:
 a display area; and 
 a non-display area surrounding the display area, and comprising a bending area and a pad area; 
   a display element layer on the display area of the first substrate;   a bending protective layer on the bending area of the first substrate;   a flexible circuit board on the pad area of the first substrate;   a circuit protective layer on the pad area of the first substrate, and completely covering the flexible circuit board;   a first support member under the display area of the first substrate; and   a second support member under the pad area of the first substrate, and spaced from the first support member, the second support member comprising:
 a first surface in contact with the first substrate; 
 a second surface opposite to the first surface; 
 a first side surface connecting the first surface to the second surface and facing toward the first support member; and 
 a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, 
   wherein the second side surface comprises a first inclined surface connected to the second surface, and the first inclined surface of the second support member overlaps with the circuit protective layer.   
     
     
         2 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the second support member further comprises:
 a first portion overlapping with the bending protective layer;   a second portion overlapping with the flexible circuit board and the circuit protective layer; and   a third portion overlapping with the circuit protective layer and not overlapping with the flexible circuit board, and   wherein the third portion of the second support member is between the first portion and the second portion.   
     
     
         3 . The display device of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion and the third portion of the second support member are spaced from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The display device of  claim 3 , wherein the second side surface of the second support member further comprises:
 a second inclined surface connected to the first surface; and   a connecting surface connecting the first inclined surface to the second inclined surface, and   wherein the first inclined surface and the connecting surface form a first inclination angle therebetween, the second inclined surface and the connecting surface form a second inclination angle therebetween, and the circuit protective layer overlaps with the second inclined surface and the connection surface.   
     
     
         5 . The display device of  claim 3 , wherein the circuit protective layer comprises:
 an adhesive layer in direct contact with the flexible circuit board; and   a protective layer on the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         6 . The display device of  claim 5 , wherein the first support member and the second support member comprise glass and a plastic, and
 wherein a thickness of the first support member and the second support member is equal to or less than 200 μm.   
     
     
         7 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first side surface of the second support member further comprises:
 a third inclined surface connected to the second surface; and   a fourth inclined surface connected to the third inclined surface and the first surface, and   wherein the bending protective layer overlaps with the third inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface.   
     
     
         8 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display driver circuit on the flexible circuit board,
 wherein the circuit protective layer is in contact with the display driver circuit, and   wherein the circuit protective layer completely covers the display driver circuit.   
     
     
         9 . The display device of  claim 8 , further comprising a main circuit board spaced from the first substrate, and connected to the first substrate by the flexible circuit board,
 wherein the circuit protective layer is in contact with the main circuit board, and partially covers the main circuit board.   
     
     
         10 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit protective layer comprises an alignment mark in a plan view, and
 wherein the alignment mark overlaps with the pad area, and is located at each of two corners of the circuit protective layer.   
     
     
         11 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit protective layer comprises an alignment hole in a plan view, and
 wherein the alignment hole overlaps with the pad area, and is located at each of two corners of the circuit protective layer.   
     
     
         12 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit protective layer overlaps with the display element layer when the first substrate is bent. 
     
     
         13 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a subsidiary circuit protective layer under the pad area of the first substrate,
 wherein the subsidiary circuit protective layer is in contact with a lower portion of the second support member, and   wherein the subsidiary circuit protective layer overlaps with the first inclined surface of the second support member.   
     
     
         14 . The display device of  claim 13 , wherein a width of the subsidiary circuit protective layer in a first direction is greater than a width of the flexible circuit board in the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The display device of  claim 14 , further comprising a vacant area between the flexible circuit board and the subsidiary circuit protective layer,
 wherein the vacant area is surrounded by the second support member, the first substrate, the flexible circuit board, and the subsidiary circuit protective layer.   
     
     
         16 . The display device of  claim 15 , further comprising a main circuit board spaced from the first substrate, and connected to the first substrate by the flexible circuit board,
 wherein the subsidiary circuit protective layer is in contact with the main circuit board, and partially covers the main circuit board.   
     
     
         17 . The display device of  claim 15 , wherein the subsidiary circuit protective layer overlaps with the display element layer when the first substrate is bent. 
     
     
         18 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display driver circuit between the bending protective layer and the circuit protective layer,
 wherein the display driver circuit is spaced from the bending protective layer and the circuit protective layer.   
     
     
         19 . The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display driver circuit on the pad area of the first substrate, and spaced from the bending protective layer and the circuit protective layer therebetween,
 wherein the circuit protective layer completely covers the display driver circuit and the flexible circuit board.   
     
     
         20 . A display device comprising:
 a first substrate comprising:
 a display area; and 
 a non-display area surrounding the display area, and comprising a bending area and a pad area; 
   a display element layer on the display area of the first substrate;   a bending protective layer on the bending area of the first substrate;   a flexible circuit board on the pad area of the first substrate;   a first support member under the display area of the first substrate;   a second support member under the pad area of the first substrate, and spaced from the first support member; and   a subsidiary circuit protective layer under the pad area of the first substrate, and in contact with the second support member under the second support member,   wherein the second support member comprises:
 a first surface in contact with the first substrate; 
 a second surface opposite to the first surface; 
 a first side surface connecting the first surface to the second surface, and facing toward the first support member; and 
 a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, and 
   wherein the second side surface comprises a first inclined surface connected to the second surface, and the first inclined surface of the second support member overlaps with the subsidiary circuit protective layer.